Current work in wildlife, rivers, public lands, and climate

Santa Fe, NM – October 21. Conservation organizations WildEarth Guardians and Western Resource Advocates filed a protest with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) State Director, Linda Rundell, challenging the agency’s decision to lease over 57,000 acres of public land for oil and gas development in Eastern and Southern New Mexico, and the Black Kettle National Grasslands in Oklahoma. The lease sale for the parcels is set to occur on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 at BLM offices in Sante Fe.

The lands include vital habitat for numerous grassland species including the endangered aplomado falcon, the black-footed ferret, and multiple endangered fish species, such as the Pecos bluntnose shiner and Pecos gambusia. In addition, two parcels slated for Wednesday’s sale are adjacent to the Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

“The BLM conducted no site-specific environmental or biological analysis whatsoever before deciding to lease tens of thousands of acres of public land for oil and gas development,” said Brad Bartlett, Attorney for Western Resource Advocates. “The agency doesn’t have any idea what the impacts of leasing vast swaths of public land will be. It’s simply irresponsible.”

Dr. Nicole Rosmarino, Endangered Species Director for WildEarth Guardians, agreed. “The BLM is ignoring risks to endangered species by handing over public land to the oil and gas industry.” “The BLM is violating federal environmental law in its push to industrialize public lands and we’re challenging this shortsightedness,” said Rosmarino.

The protest filed by Western Resource Advocates and WildEarth Guardians requests the immediate withdrawal of over 57,000 acres from leasing for oil and gas until such time as the BLM complies with the federal Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other laws. Two snails and a freshwater shrimp, which are proposed for Endangered Species Act listing, are found only on the Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has stated that oil and gas development near the Refuge is a significant threat to the survival of these species. In addition, the groups are trying to protect from oil and gas development the key “hotspots” of black-tailed prairie dog acreage in the state. A February 2003 survey by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program found that Curry, Lea, and Roosevelt Counties in southeastern New Mexico have the largest remaining prairie dog colonies. The black-tailed prairie dog is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act and their colonies provide crucial habitat to imperiled species such as the black-footed ferret, swift fox, and mountain plover.